Compare towns
Ayer vs Colebrook vs Chaplin vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Shirley has the highest household income ($122k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ayer | Colebrook | Chaplin | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
1,494Lowest |
2,070 |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colebrook and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$111,250±$17k 38% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$342,800±$19k 3% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$626Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$6,211Highest 99% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | — | — | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Colebrook School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 7.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.